Ex  ffitbrtB 


SEYMOUR  DURST 


When  you  leave,  please  leave  this  book 

Because  it  has  been  said 
" Ever  thing  comes  t'  him  who  waits 

Except  a  loaned  book." 


Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/waldorfastorianeOObold 


COPYRIGHT.    1903      QV    GEORGE    C  BOLDT, 


THE  magnificent  Waldorf-Astoria  buildings  were  designed  bv  Henry  J.  Hardenbergh,  of 
New  York,  and  erected  under  the  personal  supervision  of  George  C.  Boldt, 
the  first  proprietor  and  lessee  of  both  hotels. 

THE  WALDORF  occupies  the  former  site  of  the  late  Mr.  John  Jacob  Astor's  town 
house,  northwest  corner  of  Fifth  Avenue  and  Thirty-third  Street  and  was  erected  by  his 
son,  the  Honorable  William  Waldorf  Astor,  for  Mr.  Boldt.  Ground  was  broken  November 
1st,  1890,  and  the  house  was  opened  for  business  March  14th,  1893.  The  n°t.d  derives 
its  name  from  the  little  town  of  Waldorf,  in  the  Duchy  of  Baden,  Germany,  which 
was  the  ancestral  home  of  the  Astor  family.  A  picture  of  the  town  in  stained  glass  will 
be  found  over  the  main  entrance  of  the  South  Palm  Garden,  on  the  Thirty-third  Street 
side  of  the  building. 

THE  ASTORIA  occupies  the  former  site  of  the  late  Mr.  William  B.  Astor's  town 
house,  southwest  corner  of  Fifth  Avenue  and  Thirty-fourth  Street,  and  was  erected  by  his  son, 
Col.  John  Jacob  Astor  for  Mr.  Boldt.  Ground  was  broken  May  1st,  1895,  and  the  house 
was  opened  for  business  November  1st,  1897.  This  hotel  was  named  after  the  town  of 
Astoria,  founded  in  the  year  18 11  by  John  Jacob  Astor,  the  first,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Columbia  River,  Oregon.     The  combined  hotels  are  known  under  the  title  of 

THE  WALDORF-ASTORIA. 
 .  ) 


THE  WALDORF. 


Area  Covered. 

THE  WALDORF-ASTORIA  covers  a  frontage  above  ground  of 
200  feet  on  Fifth  Avenue,  350  feet  on  Thirty-third  Street,  350  feet  on  Thirty- 
fourth  Street,  200  feet  on  Astor  Court,  with  thirteen  entrances  opening  directly 
on  these  streets. 

The  basement  and  sub-basement  occupy  an  additional  area  of  75  x  242 
feet  running  towards  Broadway. 

The  sub-basement  has  a  depth  of  42  feet  below  the  level  of  the  street. 

The  height  of  the  Astoria,  from  the  sidewalk  to  the  observatory  roof  is 
250  feet. 

The  Waldorf-Astoria  Hotel  Company,  a  New  York  corporation  of  which 
Mr.  Boldt  is  president,  and  which  he  organized  with  a  capital  of  $5,000,000  to 
take  over  the  management  of  this  enterprise,  assumed  control  as  lessee  and 
proprietor  on  May  13,  1902. 


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Points  of  Special  Interest  to  Visitors. 

Guides  are  provided  for  visitors  without  charge,  until  12  o'clock 
midnight,  but  only  on  application  at  the  main  office. 

Main  Floor. 

The  Waldorf  Restaurant.  Thirty-third 
Street  corner.  Particular  attention  is  called  to  the 
exquisite  brass  work  and  paneling. 

The  Astoria  Restaurant.  Thirty-fourth 
Street  corner.     Mural  paintings  by  Turner. 

Main  Foyer.  Thirtv-fourth  Street  side.  Statue 
of  "Vanity,"  by  Guarnerio.  Statue  of  "Night" 
by  Ives. 

The  Clock.    (See  description  on  page  10.) 

Marie  Antoinette  Room.  Thirty-third 
Street  side.  Ceiling,  "  Birth  of  Venus,"  by  Low. 
Original  arm  chair  with  foot  rest  from  "The 
Louvre."  The  clock  on  mantle  is  the  original. 
Bronze  bust  of  Marie  Antoinette  with  medallion  of 
Louis  XVI.  Grand  piano,  an  exquisite  example  of 
modern  art.  All  other  furniture  in  this  room  is 
reproduced  from  the  original. 

Turkish  Rooms.  Thirty-third  Street  side. 
Beautiful  mosaic  work.  Sword  of  Napoleon  the 
First. 

Small  Ball  Room.  Thirtv-third  Street  side. 
Ceiling  paintings  by  Fowler.  Lunettes  by  Arm- 
strong. 

Bradley-Martin  Room.  Thirty-third  Street 
and  Astor  Court.  This  beautiful  room,  85  bv  100 
feet  was  finished  just  in  time  for  Mrs.  Bradley- 
Martin's  famous  fancv  dress  ball,  February  10, 
1897,  and  has  since  retained  this  name.  After  the 
great  Astoria  ball  room  was  finished,  this  room  was 
altered  to  suit  its  present  purposes. 


The  Red  Room  or  Library.  Note  the  delicate  wood  carving  and  oak  panels. 
The  canvas  frieze  was  painted  by  Maynard. 

The  Two   Palm   Gardens.     The  Waldorf  Garden  has  a  revolving  dome. 
In   the  Astoria   Garden,  note  the  medallions   near   the  ceiling. 

The  Main  Office,  has  various  sections  dividing  the  many  departments  to  facilitate 
business. 

The  Accounting  Department,    is  on  the  Thirty-fourth  Street  side. 

The  Pneumatic  Tube  System,  is  for  visitors'  cards  and  general  information.  Visitors' 
cards  are  here  put  in  carriers  and  shot  up  to  the  desired  floor  within  a  few  seconds. 

Gentlemen's  Cafe.  Thirty-fourth  Street  and  Astor  Court.  Attention  is  called  to  the 
handsome  fireplace. 

First  Floor. 

(One  flight  up.) 

The  Grand  Ball  Room,  ioo  feet  square  and  40  feet  high.  This  magnificent  room 
has  twenty-five  first  tier  and  eighteen  second  tier  boxes,  and  can  be  arranged  at  short  notice 
either  as  a  ball  room,  concert  room,  dining  room  or  private  theatre.  The  ceiling  was  painted 
by  Blashfield,  and  is  believed  to  be  the  largest  single  canvas  in  the  world.  The  Lunettes  are 
by  Low.     This  room  has  a  special  lighting  and  ventilating  plant. 

The  West  Foyer,  adjoining  the  Grand  Ball  Room,  contains  Benzoni's  great  statue 
"The  Flight  from  Pompeii." 

The  Astor  Gallery  (after  the  Palais  Soubise,  Paris).  Its  sixteen  magnificent 
allegorical  paintings,  of  the  twelve  months  and  the  four  seasons,  are  by  Simmons. 


The  Myrtle  Room.  Attention  is  called  to  the  delicate  green  tints  in  the  decorations 
and  exquisite  embroideries  on  the  curtains  and  portieres. 

The  East  Room.  Perfectly  square  and  well  adapted  for  small  dances  and  round 
table  dinner  parties.     Prevailing  color,  old  gold. 

The  East  or  Caen  Foyer.  Containing  Story's  original  statue,  "  Cleopatra," 
"  Jephtha's  Daughter"  and  "  Undine"  by  Ives,  and  "The  Reading  Girl,'  bv  Magni.  It  is 
intended  to  place  other  statues  by  famous  sculptors  in  this  room  as  they  can  be  obtained. 

The  Famous  Waldorf  State  Apartments  are  on  the  same  floor  at  the  Thirty-third 
Street   and   Fifth  Avenue  corner. 

Henry  IV.  of  France  Drawing  Room.  Flemish  tapestries  illustrating  the  history 
and  prosperity  of  Rome.  Unfortunately  these  tapestries  had  to  be  cut  to  fit  the  various 
spaces.  The  painting  over  the  mantel,  representing  "  Margaret  de  Valois,"  wife  of  Henry 
the  Fourth,  is  by  Denman.  All  the  furniture  in  this  room,  with  the  exception  of  perhaps 
three  or  four  pieces,  is  original  and  of  the  period  of  Henry  IV,  the  carved  screen,  how- 
ever, is  Italian,  and  was  carved  for  the  late  Due  D'Aosta,  brother  of  the  late  King  Humbert 
of  Italy.  Attention  is  called  to  the  exquisite  workmanship.  The  tapestries  in  the  screen, 
however,  are  imitations  of  the  original. 

Francois  I.  Bedroom,  {Jfter  the  Musee  de  Cluny)  adjoining  the  State  Drawing  Room 
on  Thirty-third  Street  side.  The  exquisite  prie-dieu  is  an  original  Italian  work  of  art.  The 
famous  bedstead  and  all  other  furniture  in  this  room,  some  in  French  and  some  in  American 
walnut,  were  carved  in  this  country.  The  carved  woodwork  on  the  doors  is  also  well 
worth  examination. 


The  Music  Room  and  Duchess  Bedroom, 
adjoin  the  State  Drawing  Room  on  the  Fifth  Avenue 
side.  Note  the  dainty  furnishings  and  charming 
color  effects. 

The  State  Banquet  Hall.  This  room  con- 
tains examples  from  Mr.  Boldt's  private  collection 
of  china.  In  the  case  over  the  mantel  are  some  fine 
Sevres  plates  decorated  with  portraits  of  the  crowned 
heads  of  Europe.  This  set  comprises  48  pieces  and 
was  painted  to  order  for  Mr.  Boldt  by  Dessard. 
The  entire  collection  is  valued  at  $35,000.00. 

The  Astor  Dining  Room  is  located  over  the 
same  spot  as  that  occupied  by  the  dining  room  in  the 
old  Astor  mansion.  The  ceiling  and  woodwork, 
while  the  old  building  was  being  demolished,  were 
preserved  and  afterwards  placed  in  this  room  ;  likewise 
the  old  mantel,  furniture,  draperies  and  paintings. 
The  chandelier  and  side  lights  are  of  solid  hammered 
brass ;  they  were  made  in  Paris  and  arranged  for 
oil  lamps,  and  only  recently  were  adapted  for  electric 
lights.  The  reception  room  adjoining  also  contains 
some  original  furnishings  from  the  Astor  mansion. 

The  Royal  Suite  (two  flights  up),  corner  of 
Thirty-fourth  Street  and  Fifth  Avenue.  This  suite 
consists  of  drawing  room,  dining  room  and  seven  bed- 
rooms. The  drawing  room  is  furnished  after  the 
old  Italian,  and  the  bedrooms  after  the  Louis  periods 
respectively. 

The  Bedrooms.  There  are  in  all  about  1,300 
sleeping  rooms  and  800  bath  rooms ;  those  in  the 
Waldorf  part  of  the  hotel  are  mainly  furnished  after 
distinctive  periods,  while  those  on  the  Astoria  side  are 
treated  in  a  somewhat  lighter  and  more  floral  tone. 

The  Fifth  Avenue  Corner  Suites  are  ar- 
ranged as  complete  private  apartments,  with  dining 
room  and  butler's  pantries,  the  latter  being  supplied 
with  electric  heating  apparatus. 


{ 


All  Bath  Rooms  face  and  ventilate  to  the  open 
air.  Each  floor  is  arranged  as  a  separate  hotel.  It 
has  its  own  clerical  force,  its  telephone's,  private  serv- 
ice of  page  boys,  distinct  force  of  waiters,  special 
dumb-waiter  service,  heating  apparatus,  and  refrig- 
erators. The  number  of  employees  since  the  year 
1899  averaged  1,467  per  day.  In  the  winter  months, 
during  the  entertainment  season,  the  number  em- 
ployed reached  from  1,800  to  2,000  per  day,  while  in 
the  summer  months,  with  an  extra  force  for  renovating 
purposes,  there  were  rarely  less  than  1,100  employed. 
The  Hotel  has  its  own  interior  telephone  system 
connecting  all  departments.  There  are  over  3,000 
city  (or  restaurant)  accounts,  aside  from  those  of  the 
regular  hotel  patrons. 

The  Roof  Garden.  In  the  beginning  of  June 
the  roof  garden  is  opened  in  the  evenings  for  the 
convenience  of  patrons  and  their  friends.  Admission 
is  by  ticket  only,  obtainable  at  the  office.  Two 
complete  orchestras  alternate  in  furnishing  musical 
entertainment. 

The  Clock.  This  magnificent  clock,  executed 
by  the  celebrated  Goldsmiths'  Company  of  London 
for  exhibition  at  the  Chicago  World's  Fair,  is  a  won- 
derful example  of  skill,  and  is  valued  at  £25,000.  It 
stands  twelve  feet  high.  The  octagonal  sides  are 
ornamented  with  interesting  scenes  and  busts  of 
famous  men  and  women,  executed  in  solid  silver 
bas-relief.  Above,  small  figures,  likewise  of  silver, 
gilded,  represent  different  sports,  ancient  and  modern  ; 
these  figures  revolve  when  the  chimes  ring.  Then 
come  the  four  faces  of  the  clock  proper,  marking  the 
time  of  New  York,  Greenwich,  Paris  and  Madrid. 
Surmounting  all  is  the  beautiful  miniature  of  the 
"  Statue  of  Liberty."  The  chimes,  which  ring  every 
quarter  hour,  are  well  worth  hearing. 


The  Basement  and  Sub-basement  are  well  worth  a  visit.  The  former 
contains  the  great  kitchen,  pantries  and  store-rooms,  and  the  latter  the  machinery 
hall,  boiler  rooms  and  the  great  electric  plant.  The  electric  plant  is  the  largest  and 
finest  isolated  installation  in  the  world,  and  supplies  current  to  over  25,000  lamps, 
besides  furnishing  power  for  the  running  of  elevators,  motors,  ventilating  apparatus, 
etc.  The  steam  plant  has  a  capacity  of  4,000  horsepower,  and  provides  power 
for  electric  plant,  refrigerating  machinery,  pumping  station,  laundry,  heating,  etc. 
As  evidence  of  the  enormous  capacity  of  the  pumping  plant,  it  may  be  mentioned 
that  it  would  supply  a  city  of  400,000  inhabitants  ;  and  the  refrigerating  machinery 
can  furnish  150  tons  of  ice  per  day,  besides  cold  air  to  all  the  various  refrigerators 
throughout  the  house.  There  are  in  all  34  electric  and  hydraulic  elevators.  On  an 
average  100  tons  of  coal  are  used  per  day. 

Laundry.  This  department  handles  65,000  pieces  or  linen  daily.  The 
laundry  for  patrons'  clothing  is  entirely  separate,  and  no  machinery  whatever  is 
used   in   this  branch  of  the  work. 


Some  of  the  Many  Conveniences  to  be  Found  in  the  Hotel. 


BANK  (LETTERS  OF  CREDIT  AND  FOREIGN  EXCHANGE),  AUDIT 
COMPANY,  BROKERS'  OFFICES,  THEATRE  TICKET  OFFICE,  FLORIST, 
THE  PHOTOGRAPHIC  GALLERY  AND  STUDIO,  NOTARY  PUBLIC, TURKISH 
AND  RUSSIAN  BATHS,  LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN'S  HAIR  DRESSING  ROOMS, 
STENOGRAPHERS,  CHIROPODISTS,  MANICURES,  VALETS,  MAIDS,  TRUNK 
PACKERS.      PORTERS   IN  UNIFORM   TO   MEET  TRAINS    IF  ORDERED. 


As  an  example  of  the  attention  to  detail  and  perfect  organization,  the  fact  may  be 
cited  that  the  management,  even  as  long  as  thirty  days  after  the  occurrence,  can  tell  the  exact 
time  at  which  the  card  of  a  caller  was  received  at  the  tube-station  on  main  floor,  the  exact 
time  it  reached  the  floor  to  which  it  was  sent,  the  number  of  the  boy  who  took  it  from  the 
floor-office  to  the  room,  the  reply  received  at  room,  the  time  it  left  the  floor-office,  the  time 
of  its  return  to  the  tube-station,  and,  in  case  of  its  being  "  paged  "  on  main  floor,  the  number 
of  the  page-boy  and  also  the  report  which  he  made. 


THE  WALDORF-ASTORIA  SEGAR  COMPANY 

has  its  headquarters  in  the  basement  at  the  Fifth  Avenue  front  of  the  building.  Its  great 
humidors  are  situated  in  the  basement  below,  where  a  choice  stock  of  cigars  from  all  the 
leading  factories  on  the  Island  of  Cuba  is  constantly  kept  on  hand.  The  temperature  of 
these  humidors  is  maintained  at  500  Fahrenheit  throughout  the  year.  The  value  represented 
here  is  between  $300,000  and  $400,000. 


THE  WALDORF  IMPORTATION  COMPANY 

also  has  its  headquarters  here,  and  its  extensive  cellars  contain  the  choicest  and  best 
selected  wines  obtainable.  A  specialty  is  made  of  picking  up,  through  its  foreign  agents 
all  over  the  world,  choice  lots  of  old  and  rare  vintages,  the  genuineness  of  which  is 
guaranteed  by  the  establishment. 


MAIN    ENTRANCE  — THE  WALDORF. 


MAIN  OFFICE. 


GRAND    BALL     ROOM.    AS    A    THEATRE— THE  ASTORIA 


ASTOR    GALLERY — THE  ASTORIA. 


EAST    OR    CAEN    FOYER-TH  E  ASTORIA, 


THE    WALDORF    STATE   APARTMENTS  —  HENRY    IV.    DRAWING  ROOM. 


EMPIRE    SUITE —  BEDROOM  —  THE  WALDORF. 


ONE   OF   A   SERIES   OF   LOUIS   XV.   DRAWINO    ROOMS— THE  WALDORF 


EAST     INDIA    S  U  I  T  e  — O  R  A  W  I  N  O     ROOM— THE  WALOORF. 


GREEK    BEDROOM  — THE  WALDORF, 


A    COLONIAL    BEDROOM— THE  WALDORF. 


DOUBLE    BEDROOM— THE  ASTORIA. 


A   VIEW    OF    THE  ROOF. 


DISH     WASHING  MACHINES. 


COFFEE  URNS. 


PHOTOGRAPHIC     STUDIO  — THE  ASTORIA. 


MAP    AND   GUIDE    FOR    PATRONS  SHOWING 


ITS   OF   INTEREST  AND   BEAUTIFUL  DRIVES. 


PNEUMATIC    TUBES    FOR    VISITORS'  CARDS. 


LCTTU  '  • 
AM  1 1 K: AM  UlNMUMIC 
C6M**MV    ■  1. 


